title: Usefulness of the SPACE pulse sequence at 1.5T MR cholangiography: comparison of image quality and image acquisition time with conventional 3D-TSE sequence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively evaluate the image quality and image acquisition time at 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) using sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts (SPACE) and conventional turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We acquired navigator-triggered SPACE and conventional 3D-TSE MRCP images using the same parameters where possible for 30 patients and compared the image acquisition time, contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the common bile duct (CBD). Two radiologists performed qualitative analyses using a 4-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image acquisition time was 31% shorter with the SPACE than the conventional TSE sequence (248.9 ± 73.0 sec vs. 360.5 ± 99.9 sec, P < 0.01). The contrast and CNR was significantly higher with the SPACE technique than conventional TSE (39.4 ± 14.7 vs. 33.5 ± 14.2, P < 0.01 and 18.6 ± 7.8 vs. 15.5 ± 9.3, P = 0.03). All visual scores were higher for the SPACE than the conventional TSE sequence; there was a significant difference in motion artifacts and the depiction of the CBD and the left hepatic and main pancreatic duct (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the 1.5T MR scanner, 3D-MRCP with the SPACE sequence significantly improved the contrast and CNR of CBD. In addition, it yielded images of better quality at 30% shorter acquisition time than constant refocusing pulse flip angle TSE.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Radiology, Amakusa Medical Center, Graduate School of Medical, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Graduate School of Medical, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakaura
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kidoh
authors.forename: Natsuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Namimoto
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: MRCP; SPACE; TSE